Sinsa-dong dining bar lunch with cuttlefish tapenade pasta: Geullodeu

A Sinsa-dong dining bar with a clean space, sensory-driven food, and a wide wine selection: Geullodeu

Where Geullodeu is and what to know before going

I wanted lunch somewhere with a good atmosphere, so I headed to Geullodeu. It sits on the 2nd floor of a building tucked in a Sinsa-dong alley — just follow the sign at the entrance up the stairs.

• Address: 8 Eonju-ro 173-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Transit: About 485m from Apgujeong Station Exit 2
• Hours: Mon–Fri 17:00–24:00 / Sat–Sun 12:00–24:00
• Weekend break time 15:00–17:00, last order 22:00
• No-kids zone, no pets
• One wine glass per person required for dinner, non-alcoholic wine available
• Valet parking, ₩5,000 cash

Inside Geullodeu: a white room with a floor-to-ceiling window, bright at lunch

The interior was bigger and cleaner than it looked from outside, which put me in a good mood before I'd even ordered. If you're looking for an Apgujeong restaurant or a Sinsa wine bar where you can have both a meal and a glass of wine in one spot, this is it.

Walking in, the first thing I noticed was the white-toned, tidy interior. A large floor-to-ceiling window on one wall let in natural light during the day, and small table lamps at each table added a warm touch.

The spacing between seats didn't feel cramped, with a range from 2-person tables to larger group seating. The whole place felt calm — good for an easy meal with a friend, and it looked like it would work well as a Sinsa-dong date spot too.

What we ordered at Geullodeu and what it cost

This time we ordered white bread (₩9,000), cuttlefish tapenade pasta (₩30,000), and jjondeuksal (₩35,000) — ₩74,000 total.

There's also a separate wine list, with red, white, sparkling, and non-alcoholic options. We came for lunch so we focused on the food. Apparently for dinner visits, ordering one glass of wine per person is required, and non-alcoholic wine is an option if you don't drink.

White bread, 9,000 won

The white bread came out first — four slices of bread with butter rolled up prettily like a rose, all on one plate.

Spreading plenty of butter on the bread was a nice light way to whet the appetite before the main dishes arrived. The plating was pretty enough to photograph too.

What does the cuttlefish tapenade pasta (30,000 won) taste like?

Next came the cuttlefish tapenade pasta.

The black noodles topped with cuttlefish, herbs, and a crunchy crumble looked totally different from a typical pasta right from the start.

Cuttlefish pieces were tucked between the noodles, which made twirling them up fun, and the salty umami of the tapenade was well soaked into the noodles. On top of that, the herb aroma and the crumble's crunch gave several layers of flavor and texture in one bite.

The sauce coated the noodles evenly, and it paired well with the white bread too. It's a distinctive dish, different from the cream or tomato pastas I usually eat — a fitting choice for a Sinsa-dong dining bar.

Jjondeuksal (chewy grilled pork), 35,000 won: the best dish of the day

The jjondeuksal (chewy pork neck) came out last, and it was my favorite thing we ordered. The thick-cut, grilled pork came with roasted onions, sauce, nuts, and herbs.

The surface was golden and savory, while the inside stayed moist and had that genuinely chewy texture the name promises.

The meat was great on its own, but it got even better paired with the sweet roasted onions and sauce. The finely scattered nuts added a nutty flavor and some crunch, and even though the meat was thick, it wasn't tough at all — I kept reaching for more.

We scooped meat and onions onto our small plates together, and every last bite was good. Next time I visit Geullodeu, I definitely want to order jjondeuksal again. If you like meat dishes, this one's worth recommending.

Geullodeu's wine room and evening mood

After the meal, I took a look around and found a dedicated wine area with a wide variety of bottles on display. There was a lot to look at — a curved shelf holding the bottles, a wine cellar, and neatly arranged wine glasses.

During the day it had a bright, restaurant-like feel with natural light, but once the lights come on in the evening, it seemed like it would turn into a completely different kind of Sinsa-dong wine bar. With such a wide range of wines available, this could be a nice spot for an anniversary or date, getting wine recommendations to match your meal.

Is lunch at Geullodeu worth it?

Geullodeu was a place to enjoy distinctive food in a bright, clean space. The cuttlefish tapenade pasta was a fun, different bite, but personally the jjondeuksal stuck with me the most. It's not just about the atmosphere — the food's flavor and plating clearly got just as much attention, which left me satisfied after the meal. It's a good spot for a relaxed lunch during the day and an atmospheric evening with a wide wine selection at night. If you're looking for a Sinsa-dong date spot or somewhere for an anniversary dinner, Geullodeu is worth considering.